Unit 9 Flashcards
____ deplete the ozone layer
CFCs
gas compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, & fluorine, typically used in refrigerants & aerosol propellants (sprays)
Holes in the ozone layer common above the north and south poles are most common because
low temperatures create polar stratospheric clouds that lead to the production of free chlorine, which breaks down ozone
At what point of the year do low temperatures create polar stratospheric clouds that lead to the production of free chlorine?
(which breaks down ozone layer at the north & south poles)
at the beginning of the antarctic spring (october)
What environmental treaty banned CFCs?
Montreal Treaty
Type of powerful greenhouse gas combound intended to take the place of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) & chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) for vehicle air conditioning
(compound does not deplete ozone layer)
(HFCs) Hydrofluorocarbons
improper disposal of refrigerants & freezers releases…
CFCs
(and other ozone depleting compounds)
Ozone layer depletion causes…
-decreased rate of photosynthesis
-reduced crop & forest yields
-reduced tree seedling growth/survivability (increased susceptibility to harsh weather, diseases & pests)
Why is it predicted that ozone depletion over the poles will be at its worst between 2010 and 2019?
Because ozone takes that long to reach peak atmospheric concentration
about 9 years
What are the main greenhouse gasses?
- carbon dioxide (CO2)
- methane (CH4)
- water vapor (H2O)
- nitrous oxide (Nx)
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Natural Atmospheric Greenhouse Gasses: CH4, H2O, Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Vocab word
level of reflectivity of a material
(how much heat a material can reflect off the earth)
Albedo
Material with the highest albedo on land
Snow & Ice
Temperature controls are…
factors that will alter the temp in an area, examples include:
* albedo
* geographic position
* ocean currents
* greenhouse gasses
Water vapor is responsible for about 50% of the green house effect, why does it have such a low GWP?
GWP = Global Warming Potential
Water vapor does not stay in the atmosphere for very long
The greenhouse effect is caused by…
Greenhouse gases absorb Inferared Radiaton from Earth’s surface
Top 3 Compounds with the highest GWP
GWP = Global Warming Potential
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- Nitrous Oxide (Nx)
- Methane (CH4)
What makes a greenhouse gas a greenhouse gas?
The gases ability to absorb infrared thermal radiation
greenhouse effect
The primary anthropogenic source for nitrous oxides is
agriculture, (fertilizer use & manure decomposition)
Global climate change is caused by…
excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
What causes rising sea levels?
- Expansion of water molecules from ocean warming
- Melting Ice Sheets
1 = primary cause
Higher global temperatures are the originating cause
Effects of Global Warming:
Rising global temperatures
lengthens the season & increase the geographic range of disease-carrying insects
Increased rainfall, flooding & humidity makes more viable areas for vector breeding (breeding occurs more quickly, as eggs hatch faster in hotter climates)
Human Migration
exposes people to viruses that they are not immune to & also displaces coastal populations causing people to migrate to new regions & urban areas bringing diseases
a greenhouse gas that comes only from anthropogenic sources and causes global cooling
CFCs
the most abundant non-anthropogenic greenhouse gas
water vapor
If Earth had no atmosphere, the mean surface temperature would be approximately -15°C. With our present atmosphere, Earth’s mean surface temperature is approximately +15°C, why?
The atmosphere absorbs infrared (thermal) radiation
Global climate change occurs because increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses and ????? radiation in the ??????
Global climate change occurs because increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses and infrared radiation in the Troposphere
In models of global warming, the most important factor contributing to an increase in sea level rise is what?
Thermal expansion
(the expansion of water molecules as the temperature increases)
What results from greenhouse warming but also contributes to additional warming of Earth (i.e., is a positive feedback process)?
Decrease in permafrost
loss of high albedo areas
When permafrost thaws, it warms & decomposes, releasing the carbon that it holds as carbon dioxide (CO2) & methane gases
Effects of Sea Water Rise:
on sea life
-new habitats on now-flooded continental shelves
-communities that may no longer be in the photic zone of seawater (sunlight doesn’t reach them anymore)
Climate change may change circulation patterns, because…
temperature changes may impact Hadley cells & the jet stream
What areas do ocean current disruptions effect the most?
Coastal Areas
global atmospheric circulation structure & associated winds have been displaced toward…
the north & south poles
Climate change can affect soil through…
changes in temperature & rainfall impacting soil’s viability & may increase erosion
Volcanoes cause global cooling by…
releasing ash & sulfate aerosols into the atmosphere which changes the albedo & reflects sunlight back into space
Large quantities of methane hydrates are located in this region and if released will contribute significantly to global climate change. Where is it?
North & South Poles
In the stratosphere, what increases Earth’s albedo by reflecting solar energy back into space?
Ash & Sulfuric Acid
What will occur if the trend of global temperature increase continues?
Levels of atmospheric water vapor will increase in the lower troposphere
The polar regions radiate away more heat energy than they receive from the Sun in the course of a year. However, they are prevented from becoming progressively colder each year primarily by what?
the transport of heat through the atmosphere & ocean currents
Anthropogenic actions that increase CO2 in the atmosphere:
and cause ocean acidification
-burning of fossil fuels
-vehicle emissions
-deforestation
idk if we need this on the unit 9 quiz but
Biodiversity Index Calculation
(steps)
- Determine the number of different species
- Divide your answer by total number of individual organisms present
Answer will be between 0 & 1 with 0 = low diversity & 1 = high diversity
What solutions can best reduce an anthropogenic cause of ocean acidification?
Reducing fossil fuel use
(decrease CO2 emissions)
Ocean Warming is caused by
greenhouse gasses in atmosphere
Effects of Ocean Warming
- Coral Bleaching
- loss of habitat
- metabolic & reproductive changes.
the decrease in pH of the oceans, primarily due to increased CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere
can be expressed as chemical equations
Ocean Acidfication
CO2 is released into the atmosphere & oceans absorb a lot of it, becoming more acidic
Ocean acidification damages coral because
the increase in hydrogen ions in the ocean bond with avalible carbonate ions, resulting in less carbonate avalible for coral to use to generate calcium carbonate, thus slowing coral skeleton formation
Invasive species: species that can live, and sometimes thrive, outside of their normal habitat, are often…
- Generalist, r-selected species
- tolerant of many different environmental qualities
- Not controlled by natural predators
Factors that can lead to a species becoming threatened with extinction:
- being extensively hunted
- having a limited diet
- being outcompeted (potentially by invasive species)
- having specific/limited habitat requirements
Vocab word
measurement of an organism’s ability to survive & thrive
and reproduce
Fitness
Species that are able to ??????? or ????? are less likely to face extinction
Species able to adapt to environmental changes or move to a new environment are less likely to face extinction
Vocab Word
factors that change behaviors & fitness of organisms within an environment
Selective Pressures
Strategies to protect animal populations include
criminalizing poaching, protecting animal habitats, & legislation
key legislation for domestic & international conservation, aims to provide a framework to conserve & protect endangered species & their habitats
The Endangered Species Act
(ESA)
Reasons that the population size of an exotic species often grows rapidly when the species is introduced in a new environment include which of the following?
1. Exotic species is resistant to pesticides
2. There is a large, underutilized food source in the new environment
3. Exotic species has few natural predators in the new environment
2 & 3
Vocab word
a measure of the variety of organisms in an area
defends plants & animals from pests & disease, leading to a more stable ecosystem
biodiversity
Types include: species, genetic, & ecosystem biodiversity
Factors leading to a decrease in biodiversity
HIPPCO:
* Habitat destruction
* Invasive species
* Population growth
* Pollution
* Climate change
* Over-exploitation
H is most harmful
Causes of habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation occurs when large habitats are broken into smaller more isolated areas
- construction of roads & pipelines
- clearing for agriculture or development
- logging
Global climate change causes habitat loss via changes in…
- temp
- precipitation
- sea level
As humans tamed wild organisms to amplify desired traits, genetic diversity…
decreased in the organisms’ populations
ex: bananas & black angus cows
Ways humans can mitigate the impact of loss of biodiversity
- creating protected areas
- use of habitat corridors
- promoting sustainable land use practices
- restoring lost habitats
Describe a disadvantage of creating a series of protected habitats in an effort to maintain biodiversity in an area
prevents access to the genetic material of creatures in the wild limits the genetic diversity in the protected habitat
In general, what is the best long-term method of preventing extinctions?
Habitat protection
Road construction, logging, and mining are banned in which federal lands?
Wilderness preservation Areas
(Only)
( Conservation areas do not count)
What is the best way to reclaim disturbed lands?
Restoring vegetation
